Ilex interspecific hybrid named &#39;CR195-115&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘CR195-115’ is a new and distinct cultivar of interspecific-hybrid evergreen holly distinguished by its small spineless leaves and narrowly conical single-trunk tree form, which is highly dissimilar to other forms of Ilex. Its parentage includes four species (Ilex crenata, I. aquifolium, I. pernyi, and I. rugosa), further distinguishing it from other cultivars. Plants are winter-hardy and exhibit a moderate rate of growth, develop an upright, densely-branched narrow conical form of compact size, and produce an abundance of well-displayed shiny black fruit.

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Latin name of genus and species of the plant claimed: Ilex interspecifichybrid.

Variety denomination ‘CR195-115’.

Description: Botanical designation: Ilex crenata x (Ilex x aquipernyi xIlex rugosa).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This new cultivar is the product of a long standing program ofhybridization and selection of interspecific hybrid hollies (Ilex) at alocation in New Brunswick, N.J.; in this instance, it is the result of acontrolled cross of Ilex crenata ‘Sky Pencil’ with Ilex x ‘Jersey Jewel’([I. aquifolium x I. pernyi] x I. rugosa). Our breeding objective was tocreate an evergreen holly with a desirable and unique upright andcompact tree form and other characteristics which would make itcommercially attractive with the potential for wide distribution. Webelieve that we have been successful in achieving this goal. Further, toour knowledge, plants of these four species combination have not beenreported previously.

We selected the particular seedling hereof from known progeny grown in acultivated area, and as a result, have in turn caused the same to beasexually reproduced by the rooting of stem cuttings. The reproduction,growth, and selection of the new cultivar and its asexually propagatedclones took place in the vicinity of Adelphia, Millstone, and NewBrunswick, N.J. The claimed cultivar is stable and reproducibletrue-to-type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

As will be understood from the following detailed description of theinvention, the new cultivar is in fact outstanding and readilyidentified as being such. With the foregoing in mind, the descriptionwhich follows will be understood as clearly defining the new cultivar,the desirable characteristics of which are the result of such a programas has been heretofore stated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Our invention, designated here as ‘CR195-115’, is a novel, unique, andhighly ornamental form of interspecific hybrid Ilex which originated bycrossing Ilex crenata ‘Sky Pencil’ (unpatented) with Ilex x ‘JerseyJewel’ (unpatented). ‘Jersey Jewel’ is the result of a cross of I. xaquipernyi [I. aquifolium x I. pernyi] ‘San Jose’ x I. rugosa R9-1 (PI276084). The new cultivar was derived from a controlled pollination madein June, 1992. The seed was harvested that same year and germinated inApril, 1993. The resulting seedling was transplanted to progressivelylarger containers and was finally transplanted to the field at aResearch and Extension Farm in Adelphia, Monmouth County, N.J. in 1996in the location of Field 71, Row 31, Plant 7. The original seedling of‘CR195-115’, tested under the identification code of CR195-115, wasasexually propagated in 2001 and subsequently tested in New Brunswickand Millstone, N.J., and shown to be true-to-type.

The new cultivar exhibits the following combination of traits: (a) amoderately vigorous, dense, and self-compacting evergreen tree with asingle trunk and very upright, narrowly conical form of much less widthand depth than that of all forms of Ilex crenata known to us; (b) small,non-spiny I. crenata-like evergreen leaves that are primarily obovatewith a rounded base, serrate margin, and obtuse apices; (c) an abundanceof pistillate flowers well positioned on shoots of the previous year'sgrowth that provide a well distributed and consistently abundant set offruit that matures to a shiny black color in the early fall and thenpersisting throughout the winter; (d) winter hardiness in New Jersey(USDA hardiness Zone 6b); and (e) low susceptibility to disease andinsect pests.

In a production environment, plants of ‘CR195-115’ develop an upright,dense, self-compacting, narrowly-conical growth habit with single trunkand strong apical dominance without corrective pruning. Their tall,narrow stature relative to the broader tree form typical of plants of I.crenata makes them useful in a wider range of landscape settings. It isclearly distinguished from patented and/or commercially availablecultivars of upright I. crenata and other Ilex interspecific hybridswith somewhat similar plant forms in the following respects:

Plants of the ‘CR195-115’ are very narrowly conical in growth habit witha tall single leader whereas plants of I. crenata ‘Sky Pencil’ (notpatented) are narrowly columnar in plant form typically with multipleleaders. ‘CR195-115’ is also much taller as a mature plant than ‘SkyPencil’ (‘CR195-115’ reaches 3.63 m at 15 years). The leaves of ‘SkyPencil’ are also longer and wider than those of ‘CR195-115’.

‘CR195-115’ differs from I. crenata ‘Steeds’ (not patented) by beingmuch more narrowly conical and tall, whereas ‘Steeds’ is broadly conicalbeing wider at all points of growth from base to apex. ‘Steeds’, a maleholly, lacks a fruit display and also has larger leaves in both lengthand width that are a slightly darker green color and are glossier thanthose of ‘CR195-115’.

‘Rutholl’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,905 P2), Trademark name EmeraldCollonnade®, is a male plant (has no fruit display). ‘Rutholl’ is muchwider than ‘CR195-115’ in growth habit (somewhat broadly conical), alsobeing widest at the central area of the plant, with a rounded base andconical apex, whereas ‘CR195-115’ is widest near its base and narrowlyconical throughout with a very narrow apex. Leaves of ‘Rutholl’ arelonger and wider than those of ‘CR195-115’.

‘Farrowone’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,049 P2), Trademark name SkyPointer®, has leaves that are longer than ‘CR195-115’ although similarin width. ‘Farrowone’ is not known to produce fruit, whereas ‘CR195-115’produces large amounts of well-displayed black fruit even on young trees(only one or two years from a rooted cutting from a mature tree).‘FarrowSK6’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,852 P2), Trademark name Patti O™,has slightly smaller leaves on average in both length and width than‘CR195-115’. However, like ‘Farrowone’ there is no fruit displayobserved on plants of ‘FarrowSK6’, whereas ‘CR195-115’ produces abundantfruit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1a & b illustrate the growth habit of a 15-year-old plant. FIG. 1aon the left was taken in July and FIG. 1b on the right taken inNovember.

FIG. 2 illustrates typical leaves and fruit display of the new cultivarin November.

FIG. 3 is a close up of heavy fruit production on 4-year-oldcutting-produced plant in November.

The color definitions in the specification have been taken from theR.H.S. Colour Chart (1966) of The Royal Horticultural Society, London,England. The colors depicted are believed to be of a high level of colorfidelity and are believed to be as close to the actual coloration of theplant as possible in a photographic illustration of this quality.However, due to factors such as light reflectance, cultural conditions,and horticultural practices, the coloration of this plant should beunderstood to be approximate. For example, the leaf color may varydepending on the composition and the concentration of fertilizer appliedto the plant.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of our new cultivar ofinterspecific hybrid Ilex made from observation of a 15-year-oldcutting-grown plant existing in the vicinity of Millstone, N.J.

-   Parentage: Ilex crenata ‘Sky Pencil’ x ‘Jersey Jewel’ (I. x    aquipernyi ‘San Jose’ x I. rugosa H9-1).-   Pollinator: can be pollinated by a staminate plant of either Ilex    crenata, Ilex aquifolium, Ilex pernyi, Ilex rugosa, Ilex x    aquipernyi, or Ilex x meserveae with a synchronous flowering period.-   Plant growth characteristics: plants have an upright, narrowly    conical habit with 15-year field-grown plants attaining a size of    3.63 m in height and 1.1 m in width at its widest point (0.76 m from    ground) under conditions of minimal fertilization and minimal    supplemental irrigation. Plants establish a dominant central trunk,    and branching is dense and self-compacting with very little or no    pruning. The diameter of the tree trunk of a 15-year-old plant at 10    cm above the soil level is 14.0 cm. The bark texture of the trunk is    smooth and the color is Greyed-Green Group 197B close to the base,    lightening to Greyed-Green Group 197C higher up on the trunk. Plants    bear abundant crops of black berries annually which are well    displayed among the green to light-green, slightly serrate leaves    which retain their color even when bearing a heavy crop of fruit. A    plant in the mature phase (flowering) can be achieved in one year    from a rooted cutting taken from a plant in the mature phase. The    subsequent annual growth rate ranges from 20-30 cm for plants grown    in full sun, varying as indicated depending on climatic conditions,    soil or growing medium type, and cultural practices such as    fertilization and irrigation. Our studies showed that cuttings    rooted in January with bottom heat, intermittent mist, and 0.8% IBA    powder reached an average of 61 cm tall and 27 cm wide (near bottom    ¼ of plant) (n=40) by July of the third growing season (30 months).    Field planted six-year-old cuttings grown in full sun reached an    average height of 2.32 m and a width of 0.30 m (n=7).-   Foliage:    -   -   Type.—Evergreen, coriaceous (abaxial and adaxial),            alternate, primarily obovate with rounded base, serrate            margin, and obtuse apices. Prominent stomata underneath            (visible punctate effect under handlens magnification);            venation underneath with invisible secondary and tertiary            veins, midvein raised; leaf margin slightly recurved, entire            except for small, separated teeth, 6-9 per side, 0.2-0.3 mm            long; leaf teeth deciduous with age.        -   Size.—Leaf size varies slightly with light intensity and            fertility program where plants are growing. Size is            generally in the range of 10-18 mm long and 6-9 mm wide.        -   Petiole.—Approximately 2.0-2.4 mm long and 0.8-1.0 mm wide,            color is closest to Yellow-Green Group 146C.        -   Color.—Mature growth, upper surface — closest to between            Green Group 137A and 137B; lower surface — Yellow-Green            Group 146B. New growth, upper surface — closest to            Yellow-Green Group 146C; lower surface — closest to            Yellow-Green Group 144A.-   Stems:    -   -   Color.—New growth in spring and summer is closest to            Yellow-Green Group 144A. One-year-old stems are closest to            Yellow-Green Group 146B and 146C; older branches and the            central stem are primarily Greyed-Green Group 197B, and the            base of the tree trunk is closest to Greyed-Green Group            197C. Numerous, dense, tightly angled branches, typically            angled around 55-65°. Current season's growth is 2.5-3.5 mm            in diameter. One-year-old branch is typically 8.0 to 15.0 cm            in length and 3.0-4.0 mm in diameter. Older wood is            progressively larger in diameter. Pubescence present as            small, white hairs on branches, pedicels, and petioles.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Inflorescence.—2-3-flowered, axillary, cymose. Bracts            acuminate to long-acuminate. Pedicel with 2 small bracts            near base, green. Flowers are actinomorphic, 4-merous,            bisexual.        -   Calyx.—4-merous, shallowly campanulate; broadly obovate;            lobes free except at very base, 0.5-0.6 mm long, 1.0-1.2 mm            wide; margin erose, hyaline.        -   Corolla.—4-merous, rotate.        -   Gynoecium.—1.5 mm high (including stigma), ovoid; stigma            sessile, fleshy, 4-lobed, 0.5 mm high, 1.0 mm wide. 1            pistil.        -   Stamens.—4, inserted in corolla lobe sinuses; filaments 1.0            mm long; anthers broadly sagittate (upside v-shaped), thecae            lack pollen (non functional).-   Fruit:    -   -   Type.—Berry containing 4 woody seeds — functional.        -   Size.—Rounded, approximately 3.5-4.5 mm diameter, with            appressed sepals.        -   Color.—At maturity, fruit are glossy, closest to Black Group            202A.        -   Environmental tolerance.—Field grown plants of this new            variety exhibit winter hardiness in U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness            Map (January 1990) Zone 6a (−10° F.). No insect or disease            damage has been observed on plants growing in the field.            Asexual reproduction by cuttings and grafts of our new            variety have been accomplished in the vicinity of New            Brunswick, N.J. The plant reproduces true to type in            successive generations of asexual reproduction.

We claim:
 1. An interspecific hybrid evergreen holly as morespecifically illustrated and described herein